Between eras and energies. Soul-baring confessions. Equal parts nostalgia and now. There’s romance in here. We chat to Deus Records regular KENNY L about a room tuned toward intention rather than excess.
What changes when it’s a Deus Records night?
When it’s a Deus Records night, the energy feels more curated and intentional. The crowd comes for the music, not just the party. It allows me to be more exploratory with my selection of deeper cuts, more storytelling, less predictable moments. It feels less like a typical club night and more like a shared musical experience.
When you’re playing, is it a genre or an atmosphere?
Always to the atmosphere. Genre is just a framework and a tool. What really matters is reading the room and understanding the emotional temperature of the space. I build my set around how the crowd feels in that moment, whether they need something groovy, euphoric, stripped back, or intense.
Nostalgia in your sets - is about connection, or is it your way of pulling the crowd somewhere new?
It’s both. Nostalgia creates instant connection and gives people something familiar to hold onto. But I use it as a bridge. I’ll start with something recognisable, then twist it or layer it into something unexpected.
From Bali to Jakarta and beyond, how does the energy shift across Indonesia and how do you shift with it when you’re playing?
Each city carries a different rhythm. Bali tends to be more laid-back and open to experimental sounds, with a very international crowd. Jakarta is faster, more high-energy, and reacts strongly to momentum. Other cities can feel more intimate and personal.
For me, adaptability is everything. I never approach a set with a rigid template. I observe, feel the room, and adjust in real time. Being a DJ is as much about reading people as it is about playing music.
